Sunday, March 15, 2009

Figurative Language

In the novel Out Stealing Horses, written by Per Petterson, the most commonly used literary element is imagery that is found in many of Trond's flashbacks. The imagery in the novel is very descriptive and vivid in order to help visualize Trond's past. For example, while Trond and Jon were out stealing horses one day, Trond fell of his horse. He took a hard fall and to explain his feelings afterwards, Petterson uses different similies to imitate the emotions. On page 25 Trond recalls,
"...my head was empty, no thoughts, everything quite clean and the sky transparently blue, and I didn't know what I was called or even recognise my own body. Unnamed, I floated around looking at the world for the first time and felt it strangely illuminated and glassily beautiful, and then I heard a whinny and thundering hooves, and it all came back like a whirring boomerang and hit me on the forehead with a crack..."
In this passage there is a similie used comparing a boomerang and a the quick comemoration of what just happened. Also, there are many different pictures present in this passage. Petterson incoorporates different pure scenes where the sky is transparently blue, everything is quite clean, and there were no thoughts. It gives the reader images to put into their brain, and put themselves in the spot of Trond. This event of Trond falling is one of various significant events that includes figurative language, while other lesser events get staight to the facts and information. Throughout the book, the text is explained right to the point and there is not much figurative language.

6 comments:

  1. Alexa, I feel the same way on imagery being the best literary aspect of this book. That quote was actually a quote I thought of when I was thinking about imagery, it just stuck with me. That is what Petterson is good at, getting scenes to stick with you. All books should have scenes that stick with you or else what's the point of reading a book if you dont remember anything?

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  2. I agree about your comment on how Tronds use of Literary elements is directly connected to his personality. Also how these aspects set a soft mood to the story is understandable. But another point that you made that makes sense is how imagery plays a big part in Out Stealing Horses

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  3. Alexa, I also agree with you that the use of imagery is the most commonly used literary aspect in the novel. The quote that you chose was very helpful in backing up what you were trying to get across. It is also interesting that you chose a quote that incorporated figurative language considering that is not usually a common factor in his sentences.

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  4. Alexa,
    I agree that the author uses language to create a clear image for the reader. I think you chose a good quote to explain this because for me I can get a vivid picture of Trond getting hurt on the horse, and also imagine his feelings at this time.

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  5. Alexa,
    I agree that imagery is very important in the novel. I enjoyed your quote. I agree about your argument that the descriptions show personality.

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  6. Alexa,
    I too agree with your statement on imagery as the most important literary element of the novel. Combined with Pettersons amazing word choice the two elements complete one another to form a fantastic novel in which we are able to walk along side the character of Trond feeling as if we have known Trond all our lives.

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